Unique event on waters of Lake Natoma benefits Powerhouse Ministries
An exhilarating day of competition, entertainment, and community spirit is set to hit the waters of Lake Natoma as Folsom’s Second Annual Dragon Boat Festival returns on Saturday, April 5 on the shores of Black Miner’s Bar State Park. This highly anticipated event promises unforgettable action for participants and spectators alike.
The festival begins at 9 a.m. with an opening ceremony and is free for all spectators. Attendees can cheer on teams from the shoreline while enjoying food trucks, local vendors, live music, and interactive kids’ activities. Families and visitors can experience a full day of adventure and excitement.
The dragon boat races are the heart of the festival, showcasing teams of 16 paddlers and one drummer working in perfect rhythm to surge across Lake Natoma. Each race pits crews against one another in fast-paced heats, culminating in thrilling finals where the fastest team claims victory. The iconic dragon boats, with their vibrant designs and pounding drums, bring a captivating energy to the competition. Teams from local businesses, community groups, and regional clubs will face off, making every heat a test of teamwork and endurance.
No experience is necessary to compete, making the festival a perfect opportunity for first-timers to get in on the action. Powerhouse Ministries, the event organizer, is currently accepting team registrations. Individuals can also sign up to join an existing team. Practice sessions with a professional rower will be offered during the week leading up to the festival to help teams hone their skills.
Proceeds from the festival benefit Powerhouse Ministries, a Folsom-based nonprofit dedicated to breaking the cycles of addiction, abuse, and incarceration. “When we come together as a community, we can provide a larger, immediate impact for people who are in their most desperate moments,” said Josh Levine, Co-Executive Director of Powerhouse Ministries.
In addition to the races, live music, diverse food vendors, and family-friendly activities will ensure fun for all.
Since its founding in 1992, Powerhouse Ministries has led the region in providing no-cost residential recovery programs for men, women, and teens, alongside outreach services that reached over 10,000 people last year.
Whether paddling, volunteering, or cheering from the shoreline, the Second Annual Dragon Boat Festival is an event you won’t want to miss. In the augural event last year, teams consisted of many modalities Saturday, including local businesses, churches, youth groups, local media, service clubs and more. Several dressed in costume for the competition and everyone, whether they finished first or last, was having a great time. More importantly, they were having a great time all for the great cause.
Each team not only signed up to compete, each participant raised funds by soliciting and securing pledges for their entry, all of which went to Powerhouse Ministries and some $100,000 was raised in the first event. Learn more and register at phmfolsom.org.
